[스타일기]부활 김태원⑥ “이승철과의 헤어짐,이젠 말한다”

“Separation with Lee Seung-Cheol”

Released 18 May 2010 (9.30 am), edited 9.58 am.

=This is the last part of Kim Tae-Won’s Star Diary released on May this year. Part 1-5 had been translated and published in my blog gradually – and it’s only now that I’ve managed to finalize this last part. A lot of the story told in KBS Drama [Rock Rock Rock] had been told in this series. Check here for the complete part 1-6.=

Summer 2002. Kim Tae-Won’s apartment was full of cigarettes smoke. He couldn’t concentrate. He’s got the guitar in his hands but it’s empty inside his head. Imminent deadline for a song he has to write and compose. To help him thinking, he’s had some soju but to no avail. The more he became drunk, the more longing he felt.

Because of the stress he suffered to compose the song, his wife left to Canada taking their two children after having an argument. At first, he thought he could bear it. As time goes, the longing turned into depression. He tried to empty his mind by sleeping but insomnia forbid him to. It was by the end of longing he could barely closed his eyes.

Kim Tae-Won had gone through so many farewells. He’s still standing. Although his heart grows so exhausted every each time. It was not different when one of Boohwal members left. Lee Seung-Cheol, Kim Jegi, Kim Jae-Hee, Park Wan-Gyu, Kim Ki-Yeon, Lee Seong-Wook, Jeong Dan…

Every member had his own reason to leave Boohwal, but the main reason was the low response from the Korean public on rock music. There was no contract. He could only stood looking when each of the vocalist left for a contract with a music company.

“대중음악에서 소외된 록밴드에 멤버들을 얽매이게 하고 싶지 않았다. 물론 이 때문에 부활 역사의 60%는 위기였다.”

“The members didn’t want to be bound to a rock band that’s isolated from the popular music. Of course, for this reason, 60% of Boohwal’s history has been crisis.”

There was also other reason. Kim Jaegi, whom he’s always missed. He was like a treasure. Even when he stood at a distance to the microphone, his rich voice were always loud and clear. Kim Tae-Won waited for him to finish his military service, so he could have him as Boohwal’s member.

But the time they spent together wasn’t long. He passed away in a traffic accident while trying to get his towed car back. “The More I Love” which was inserted in Boohwal’s 3rd album was recorded for the first and only time before he passed away.

“정교한 녹음 과정을 거쳤다면 세계적인 곡이 됐을 거다. 사고만 없었다면 함께 좋은 날들을 누렸을 텐데.”

“It would have been an international hit had he finished the complete recording process. We could’ve spent good days together had he not been in the accident.”

There were also a lot of regrets about his relationship with Lee Seung-Cheol. Originally, we agreed to work together still after the recording of the 8th album. But there was some conflict between the two of us. We had different opinions about using the name “Boohwal.”

“I thought it was only natural that we make the album as “Boohwal” but Lee Seung-Chul thought differently. He insisted in using “Lee Seung-Cheol with Boohwal”. It was as if he degenerated Boohwal as his band and I was so hurt because of it.”

‘이승철과 부활’이라는 타이틀로 공연실황 DVD가 발매되며 갈등은 더욱 고조됐다.

The concert DVD was released with the title “Lee Seung-Cheol with Boohwal”, making the conflict between us to only heighten.

“사전 조율 없이 발매한 DVD에 한바탕 크게 싸웠다. 다음 작업은 자연스럽게 물거품이 됐다.”

“Without any prior consultation, we had a huge fight regarding the DVD. The collaboration planned to follow the 8th album production was automatically canceled.”

The vocalist always receive the most spotlight, it’s the reality of band. “Boohwal” was the last pride to Kim Tae-Won. He has faith. He believed that Boohwal could stand still to its name after 25 years of history.

“밴드 구성원 모두 ‘부활’이라는 이름에 자부심을 느껴 지금까지 살아남을 수 있었다.”

“All Boohwal members always feel the self-esteem of Boohwal that we can survive up to now.”

다시 2002년 여름. 잠에서 깬 김태원은 부리나케 서랍을 뒤적였다. 이내 집어든 수첩. 그는 글을 써내려갔다.

Again, summer of 2002. Kim Tae-Won hurriedly looked into his drawers as he woke up from his sleep. He started writing.

The lyrics of “Never Ending Story” that he saw in his dream. He was longing for his family. He turned on his computer and video-called his family in Canada. Blurry face of his wife. “I finished the song,” said Kim Tae-Won, tears running down his face.

A few days after, a movie-like situation came into reality just as the lyrics he had written. His wife and children showed up before his eyes. He could now hold his wife’s hands again. He made up his mind. He would never let go those hands again. Never Ending Story continued from then on, again.